Boxed carboy



5 e mail W. E. WATSQN BOXED CARBOY Original Filed March 29, l945 Amig m 195i Patented Apr. 10, 1951 BOXED CARBOY William E. Watson, Bloomfield, N. J., assignor to Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation, a corporation of New York Continuation of application Serial No. 585,406, March 29, 1945. This application April 25, 1947,

Serial No. 743,923

Claims. 1

This invention relates to packages for handling liquids in breakable containers, and more particularly to boxed carboys used for shipment of acids or similar corrosive materials.

The invention, its objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating one preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 is a plan View of a boxed carboy, Fig. 2 an elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a Vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are horizontal sections taken on the lines 4, 5 and 6 respectively of Fig. 3; Fig. '1 is a perspective vof a corner post; and Fig. 8 is a perspective of 'a tool the purpose of which will appear.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the wooden carboy box, adapted to hold for example a standard 61/2 gal. glass carboy I0, consists of a rigid housing comprising corner posts II, I2, I3 and I4, vertical sides I1 made of a plurality of boards nailed to the corner posts, bottom I8, shoes I9 and lifting cleats 28. Permanently xedto the inner face of box bottom I8 are four symmetrically placed buffers 2I which may be made of any appropriate material such as natural cork blocks, moulded asphalt-cork blocks or rubber of suitable characteristics.

The corner posts are generally rectangular in horizontal cross-section, the preferred construction of a post being shown particularly in Fig. 7. Spaced upwardly from the lower end of each post is a notch 23 cut so that the notch seat 25 lies in a vertical plane disposed at an angle of 45 to the adjacent vertical side walls I1. This notch is adapted to receive a lower wooden cushion carrier block 21 shown in vertical section in Fig. 3. The four lower carrier blocks 21 are permanently attached to their respective corners posts as by nails 3 I. Cemented or -otherwise flXedly secured to the inner face of each lower block 21 is an elastic or resilient cushion 32. In addition to resilience, these cushions should possess other characteristics, such as resistance to acids and temperature changes, which are known in this art to be required properties of buffers of this type. Cushion 32 may be made of materials such as rubber, reclaimed rubber, synthetic r-ubber, or other elastomers of suitable properties. The inner face of a lower cushion may be shaped to mate with Athe bottle surface, and the vertical positioning of lower carrier blocks 21 and associated cushions 32 may be chosen in any suitable way, e. g. as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that carboy I0 is adequately secured against lateral movement.

Each of the four upper cushion carrier blocks 35 is preferably as shown in plan in Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 3. The upper resilient cushions 31 are fixedly attached to upper blocks 35 so that the concave surfaces of these cushions register with the upper shoulder of the carboy. A carrier block 35 and its attached cushion together may be considered as a cushion member. Each carrier 35, when in operative carboy wedging position as shown in Fig. 3, is held tightly against the seat 38 of a notch 39 cut in a corner post, and is maintained in such position by the upper horizontal face of relatively short radial dimension which forms an upper stop and by the expansive stress created in a cushion 31 by the compression between the adjacent face of the carboy and notch seat 38. The vertical position of a notch 39 is chosen preferably so that the protruding lip 40 and a substantial portion of the associated upper cushion will lie above the point at which the straight side of the carboy begins to be rounded off to form the neck.

As shown in Fig. 1, the long dimension of an upper carrier block' 35 is such that its outer vertical edges approximately contact the adjacent inner faces of the box as at 42, this arrangement preventing any lateral movement of the block. The depth of an upper notch 39, theV length of a block 35, and the rectangular crosssectional form of the associated corner post are so related as to provide an open vertical triangular passageV 43 on either side of each post. Thepurpose of these passages hereafter appears; As best shown by Fig. r7, the upper end of the inner corner of each post is cut away to form a preferably planar guide surface 45 which lies in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of notch seat 38, and which terminates at the upper edge of such notch.

While the specific horizontal dimensions of cushion 31, block 35, and the horizontal distances of notch seat 38 and guide surface 45 from the contact face of the carboy may vary considerably, the relationship of these features to each other may be understood from the following. In Fig. 3, lines 50, 5I and 52 are prolongations respectively of the vertical side of the carboy, guide surface 45, and seat 38 of the notch 39. Each cushion member, comprising a block 35 and a cushion 31, has a maximum feasible compressibility and a maximum feasible expansibility. Depending upon the size of the particular package at hand, the plane of guide surface `3 45 is cut so that such surface is spaced horizontally from the adjacent vertical face of the carboy a distance 55 which is greater than the maximum feasible compressibility of the cushion member. On the other hand, the plane of seat 38 of the notch is spaced horizontally from the adjacent' vertical face of the carboy a distance 56 which is less than the maximum feasible expansibility of the cushion member. Reasons for these relationships will presently appear.

Assembly of a boxed carboy using the ca rboy suspension above described is as follows:

The bottle is inserted into the box, and with moderate down pressure the lower cushions are compressed and grip the lower end of the carboy. The depth of the lower notches and the horizontal radial dimensions of lower blocks 21 and cushions 32 are such as to causeV compression of cushions 3,2 sufficiently effective to hold the carboy against lateral displacement. "Thereafter, two `and usually three of the uppercushion blocks 35 are slipped downwardly over guide surfaces 45 until 'such blocks snap into and become seated in their respective upper notches 39 If desired, a lubricant such as scapstone may be applied'to the concave faces of cushions 31 to facilitate movement over the surface pf the earboy. The remaining or fourth block"3'5 with its 'attached cushion 31 is then forced by hand pressure down over the correspending guide surfaces 45, and during such downward movement each of the four cushions 31 becomes compressed, by wedging action, to a degree substantially greater than will exist on completion vof assembly; Because Vof the expansive force `developed in the' resilient cushion 31 of the fourth orlast block 35 during down movement of such block, on completion of downward movement to such an extent'that the upper edge 5,1 of the last block 35 clears the upper edge of its notch, suchv block 35" snaps or latches into the notch'and 'against Vits seat 38. Thereafter, all theipperblockfs 35 are heldin their respective notches and Vthe carboy is wedged rmly in the b'o'x by'th'e 'resilience of the cushions 31. Thus, it will befseen'th'at'the combined action of the expansivefo'rce of a"cushionmember, of notch seat 38, andof' theV stop formed by the upper horizontal face of the notch, functions as a latchlock meanst wedge the carboyin place. From the foregoing, itA will be seen that if distance 55 werelessthan the maximum feasible compressibility'offa'cushion member asa whole, it wouldnot be'possible toconveniently force the last block 35 down far enough to clear the upper edge of its notch. Further, if distance 56' were not lessV thanv the maximum feasible ex'pansibility of'al cushion member as a whole,y when block 35 is in place in thenotch, the resilience of cushion 31 would be insufficient to'wedge the carboy in place. I t is noted that the protruding lip or ledge 50 constitutes part o f the lower horizontal face of an upper notch' which face forms a lower stop and is of relatively long radial dimension substantially greater than the radial dimension of theupper horizontal face of such notch.

Since preferably the vertical location of the upper notches 39 is so chosen that the major portions of the upper cushions lie aboveothe point where the straight side ofthe bottle begins to be rounded off to form the top of the bottle, it will be seen that on seating of the fourth and last upper block 35 in its notch, the carboy is firmly wedged in cushioned relation in the box against both vertical and lateral movement. Be-

cause of the expansive action of an upper cushion and the contacts at 42 between the ends of a block 35 and the vertical walls of the box, such block is held firmly in the position shown in the drawing, lateral movement is prevented, and no other fastenings are required.

In use, carboys are subjected to substantial wear and tear, and frequent repairs and replacements of the boards forming the box are required, in which instances the carboy should be removed from the box. The present construction is such that disassembly is as simple asassembly. To remove the carboy, it is merely necessary to inserta prying device, e. g. the prongs 6?. of a tool 53, such as shown in Fig. 8, into the upper ends of the vertical passages 43. The cross-bar y65 rests on and straddles guide surface 45 and provides a fulcrum about which the tool may be rotated. A relatively small hand pressure applied to the upper end of the tool pries the upper block 35 in question inwardly far enough, against the compression of cushion 31 so that the rear top edge of the block clears the upper of the notch. Slight lifting movement of the tool raises the block high enough so that the rear upper portion of the block rests on the lower end of guide surface 4,5. A further upward pulling motion, either by hand or by slip.- ping the tool far enough downwardlyV over the rear face ofthe block 35, lifts the block and its cushion completely out of contact with the car.- boy. At this point, the pressure of the remaining upper cushions is released suiiiciently to permit removal of the remaining upper blocks by hand.

Hence, it will be seen that by provision of the described latch-lock relation between at least one upper cushion member and its immediately associated corner post, the invention affords a in Fig. S. In this situation, the carboy would bev wedged against lateral movement but not necessarily lockedI against vertical movement asis theV case in the preferred embodiment.l Further, the upper notches need not necessarily be in the corner posts but may be mounted, if desired, on the inner side walls of the box at points intermediate the box corners. allfour upper cushioning members be readily detachable.` Thus, two adjacent upper blocks 35 may be permanently fixed to their respective cornerposts. In any case, at least one upper block 35 andits cushion should. be detachable as described, and preferably two adjacent upper cushioningA members are so made.

This application is a continuation of my abandoned application Serial No. 585,406, i-lled'March 29, 1945.

I claim:

1 In a material handling package Comprising a rigid housing and a f-rangible container cushioneny therein, the improvement for tightly but latchedly wedging said container in said housing comprising a resilient cushion member, a vertif cally. disposed planar-seat for said member rigidly supported. by the wall. of said, housing` and., posi-.

tioned at a point near the upper end of the con- Also, it is not necessary that 5. tainer, a horizontally disposed lower stop face for the said member rigidly supported by the wall of said housing and intersecting the lower edgeA Vof said seat and terminating in the opposite direction in an outer edge close to the adjacent face of the container, vertically disposed planar guide surface accessible from the top of the container and extending downwardly and terminating at the elevation of the upper edge of said seat, said planar surface being positioned radially substantially farther from the adjacent face of the container than is the said outer edge of said lower stop face but not farther from said stop face edge than the vertical plane of said seat, and means including the expansive stress created in said cushion member by compression thereof between said seat and said container for non-iixedly and latchedly holding said cushion member in operative container wedging position against said container, said seat and said lower stop face.

2. A material handling package comprising a rigid housing, a frangible container cushioned therein, and latch-lock means for wedging said container in said housing at least against lateral movement, said means comprising a notch rigidly supported by the wall of said housing and positioned at a point near the upper end of the container, said notch having a seat, an upper face of relatively short radial dimension forming an upper stop, a lower face of radial dimension substantially greater than that of said upper face and forming a lower stop; a planar guide surface accessible from the top of the housing and terminating at the upper edge of said notch, and a resilient cushion member held non-xedly and latchedly in operative container wedging position in said notch by said stops and by expansive stress created in said member by compression thereof between said seat and the container, the junction of said surface and the upper edge of said notch being spaced from the adjacent face of the container a distance greater than the maximum feasible compressibility of said member, and the seat of said notch being spaced from the adjacent face of the container a distance less than the maximum feasible expansibility of said member.

3. A material handling package comprising a rigid housing, a frangible container cushioned therein, and latch-lock means for wedging said container in said housing at least against lateral movement, said means comprising a notch rigidly supported by the wall of said housing and positioned at a point near the upper end of the container, said notch having a seat spaced inwardly from the adjacent inner wall of said housing, an upper face of relatively short radialdimension forming an upper stop, a lower face of radial dimension substantially greater than that of said upper face and forming a lower stop; a planar guide surface accessible from the top of the housing and terminating at the upper edge of said notch, and a resilient cushion member held nonlxedly and latchedly in operative container wedging position in said notch by said stops and by expansive stress created in said member by compression thereof between said seat and the container, the junction of said surface and the upper edge of said notch being spaced from the adjacent face of the container a distance greater than the maximum feasible compressibility of said member, and the seat of said notch being spaced from the adjacent face of the container a distance less than the maximum feasible expansibility of said member, the face of said resilient member adjacent said seat having a lateral dia prying surface and, between said-face and the adjacent inner wall of said housing, an opening accessible from the top of said container.

4., A boxed carboy comprising a rigid carboy box, a carboy cushioned therein, and latch-lock means for wedging said carboy in said box at least against lateral movement, said means comprising a notch rigidly supported by the wall of said box and positioned at a point near the upper end of the carboy, said notch having a seat, an upper face of relatively short radiall dimension forming an upper stop, a lower face of radial dimension substantially greater than that of said upper face and forming a lower stop; a planar guide surface accessible from the top of the box and terminating at the upper edge ofv said notch, and a resilient cushion member held non-xedly and latchedly in operative carboy wedging position in said notch by said stops and by expansive stress created in said member by compression thereof between said seat and the carboy, the junction of said surface and the upper edge of said notch being spaced from the adjacent face of the carboy a distance greater than the maximum feasible compressibility of said member, and the seat of said notch being spaced from the adjacent face of the carboy a distance less than the maximum feasible expansibility of said member.

5. A boxed carboy comprising a rigid carboy box, a carboy cushioned therein, and latch-lock means for wedging said carboy in said box at least against lateral movements, said means comprising a corner post of said box, a notch in said post positioned at a point near the upper end of the carboy, said notch having a seat spaced inwardly from the adjacent corner of said box, an upper face of relatively short radial dimension forming anY upper stop, a lower face of radial dimension substantially greater than that of said upper face and forming a lower stop; a planar guide surface accessible from the top of the box and terminating at the upper edge of said notch, and a resilient cushion member held non-xedly and latchedly in operative carboy wedging position in said notch by saidstops and by expansive stress created in said member by compression thereof between said seat and the carboy, the junction of said surface and the upper edge of said notch being spaced from the adjacentface of the carboy a distance greater than the maximum feasible compressibility of said member, and the seat of said notch being spaced from the adjacent face of the carboy a distance less than the maximum feasible expansibility of said memberj the face of said resilient member adjacent said seat extending beyond both sides of said seat to thereby provide on either side of said post a prying surface and, between said face and the adjacent inner walls of said box, openings accessible from the top of said box.

WILLIAM E. WATSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,019,860 James Nov. 5, 1935 2,021,879 Lahey et al Nov. 19, 1935 2,410,179 Nygren Oct. 29, 1946 

